Liberty Mutual Cuts Ribbon on New Back Bay Building

It took just under three years for the new Liberty Mutual Insurance building at 175 Berkeley St. in Back Bay to go from groundbreaking to reality.

On Friday business and civic leaders gathered at the new 22-story, 590,000 square-feet facility for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the operation that was expected to add 600 new, full-time employees to the insurance company's Boston offices.

Chairman and CEO David Long said the company has already added 680 jobs to the facility as a result of the expansion.

During construction, Long said 500 construction jobs were added "during a period of real economic slowdown."
The project is also expected to generate over $70 million in new real estate tax revenue for Boston over the next 20 years, Long said.

In addition to the new building, the company also added a pedestrian bridge that connects the new office to other Liberty Mutual buildings in Boston, the new Cafe Columbus, the St. James Garden and open space on Stuart Street.

"They had so much confidence in the city of Boston, and they had so much confidence in their own company," Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said. "They were willing to invest in this beautiful building...thank you for your partnership with the city of Boston."

"It's great to see what's happening here in Boston," said Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki.